Chapter 17: Monster Mass Outbreak I

Inside the Adventurer’s Guild building.

Unlike usual, the air feels taut with tension, hinting something’s changed.

Were adventurer groups always this serious? The people gathered today have a different vibe.

“What’s going on?”

Isti seems to have a hunch.

“Probably a mass monster outbreak.”

“Mass monster outbreak?”

I’ve heard that phrase in passing before.

“There’s a time when monsters surge due to the Demon Lord’s influence. When that happens, adventurers scattered across the land come together to deal with it.”

“So it’s also when you see elite adventurers you don’t normally spot.”

Isti nods.  

“Even the guild headquarters in the Holy City was packed to the brim. Now it’s reached Dry Village too.”

Are high-rank adventurers all weirdos? Their outfits are unique, and a lot of them seem to prefer being alone.

Among them, a man with creepily long hair approaches us.

“To see the ‘Noble Huntress,’ my luck’s good today.”

…He’s coming for Isti, not me.

“…”

“You might not remember me, but we crossed paths during the ‘Minotaur Subjugation.’”

“Wabid. I remember.”

Wabid extends his hand, but Isti just stares at it without taking it.

Wabid awkwardly retracts it and says, “Elves are guardians of the forest. I assume you came hearing about the orc outbreak.”

“Orcs…?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

…Does this Wabid guy not see me?  

I feel like I’ve turned invisible.

“If it’s alright, I can share the info I’ve gathered. Shall we step over there?”

“I’ll find out myself.”

Isti politely declines Wabid’s offer and grabs my hand.

Wabid finally looks at me straight.

“Is he your companion?”

“Thought I was invisible for a second.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t imagine it…”

Couldn’t imagine it? Meaning it’s that surprising for Isti to be with someone specific?

“What changed your mind to form a party? He must have impressive skills.”

Isti squeezes my hand tight, “Yeah, he’s amazing. Enough to make me fall for him.”

That’s not just hyping me up—it’s launching me into space.

Hearing that from Isti, Wabid seems at a loss for words.

“There’re already so many talented adventurers… Feels like I’m losing my place. Nice to meet you. I’m Wabid, just an adventurer.”

“I’m Decal.”

I shake Wabid’s hand.

If Isti remembers him, he’s clearly not “just an adventurer.”  

“Decal, huh? Looking forward to your performance in this orc subjugation mission.”

I feel people’s eyes on me.

On me, not Isti? Wow. Thanks to Isti, I can’t even guess how high my rep’s climbed. Me, who only knows one basic attack spell—do I even belong here?

“I’ll take my leave then.”

Wabid steps back.

“You’re famous among adventurers, huh.”

“Not sure. Lots of people ask me to party up, but I always turn them down.”

“Your name’s not even out there? Do you hate saying it in front of people?”

“I don’t want anyone to know it. Humans can’t be trusted. They betray faith too easily.”

Unexpectedly, Isti reveals some human distrust.  

I’d forgotten for a moment. She’s an elf with a guard up way higher than most.

“Do you not trust me either?”

Isti interlaces her fingers with mine and smiles, “You’re an exception, Decal. Human, but trustworthy.”

From what she just said, her trust in me doesn’t seem to soften her stance toward others. Elven distrust of humans runs pretty deep, it seems. Well, I’ve got no plans to change that.

She’s right, after all.

Thinking about what I’ve done to her as a human, how guilty am I?

I held Isti like that yesterday, and now I’m getting hard again. 

I’m one twisted guy, I realize anew.

“Then I’ll call you by name when it’s just us. Oh, my name’s fine to use.”

“I don’t want to share your name either, Decal.”

Isti says it with a playful tone.

“It’s fine. I know how to handle humans.”

That came out with a bit of bite.   Anyway, it feels like the flow’s pushing me to take on the orc subjugation mission.

“Should we take down some orcs? Are they tough?”

“No idea about other people’s standards. They’re easy for me.”

Of course they are. She’s diamond rank.

“Should we take it on? Kinda scared, though.”

“I’ll protect you, Decal.”

Now that I think about it, with Isti, there’s no real danger.

Might as well go for it.

I head to the mission board first to check the orc subjugation details.

「Orc Subjugation」

Rank: C+

Recommendations:

Level 24+, party of 3 or more, combat skills, search skills

Notes: Mass orc outbreak, high danger. Likely to group up.

My level’s 16.

The requirements are way above me.  

“Isti, what’s your level?”

I step aside and ask her quietly. If she’s around 50 or 60, I could trust her with it.

“1193.”

“What?”

Did I hear that wrong?

“One thousand, one hundred, ninety-three.”

Isti repeats it clearly, thinking I didn’t catch it.

“…How strong are you?”

“Maybe diamond-rank adventurer level?”

At that level, orcs wouldn’t dare mess with her. I head straight to Ashelin at the reception desk.

“Uh, w-what can I help you with?”

What’s this?

She’d stopped stuttering lately, but now her face is oddly red. Then I remember the suggestion I gave her.

「Every night, you think of me while touching yourself」… Looks like she’s reached the stage of lewd fantasies about me.  

“Your face is red. You okay?”

“Yes! N-No problem.”

“I want to take the orc subjugation mission…”

“The orc subjugation mission? You need at least a bronze-rank license for that.”

“My license isn’t ready yet, right?”

“No, you’ll need to wait a bit longer.”

“Then…”

I glance at Isti.

She catches on quick and steps up to the desk for me.

“I’ll take it.”

“Y-Yes!! W-We don’t have large soul stones at this branch, is that okay?”

“Fine. Give me five large soul stones.”

…Is this the prestige of diamond rank? Even the soul stones she gets are different from mine.

“We need the guild master’s approval, so please wait a moment.”

While Ashelin scurries off, I ask Isti, “How many small soul stones’ worth is a large one?”  

“A hundred.”

“…”

If a small one holds a hundred goblin souls, a large one’s ten thousand goblins…?

No one’s hunting goblins with large soul stones, but that’s insane capacity.

“So a medium one’s ten small ones’ worth?”

“Yeah.”

How much would that pay if filled?

A monster outbreak might actually be a goldmine for adventurers. It’s life-or-death work, but the solid rewards make it appealing.

“Here are five large soul stones. Please return them to the guild after the mission. And…”

Ashelin glances at me.

“Will you register a party?”

“Party registration?”

What’s that? Isti looks clueless too. Makes sense—she’s never teamed up either.  

“When forming a party, the leader has to declare and register the members. It’s to fairly distribute achievements and record them after the mission.”

“Decal’s the leader, I’m a member.”

“Me, without a license, as leader, and a diamond-rank as a member? That’s ridiculous. You be the leader.”

“I’ve never done anything like leading…”

Unfamiliar territory for an elf, huh. Same for me. I could handle being a boss, but a leader?

“Well, it’s just a title, right? Ashelin, does the leader get special perks?”

“When evaluating mission results, the leader’s say carries more weight.”

“So if you kill a hundred orcs and I claim fifty, they’d count as mine?” I immediately think of exploiting it.

Ashelin panics, looking around, “Y-You can’t say that out loud!”

Isti, unusually stern, looks at me and says, “Decal, you can’t do that. You have to earn fair rewards through effort.”  

…Such upright girls.

“What’s the big deal? The number of dead orcs doesn’t change.”

“I’ll be the leader.” Isti’s stance shifts.

“I’ll make sure you don’t cheat.”

“You don’t trust me?”

Isti gazes at me steadily, “I do. But I think you’re capable of fudging kill counts.”

She’s nailed me down to a T. Elven insight’s no joke.

“Then I’ll register the Huntress as leader.” Ashelin quickly fills out the paperwork.

I’ve got no complaints. The strongest should lead. But where do orcs show up?

“Where do orcs appear?”

“Right now, you can easily find them in the forest outside the village. If you destroy their base and bring back a trophy, it boosts your score, so keep that in mind.”  

So they grade it based on various factors.

I step outside the guild with Isti.

“Should we eat first, then head out? Leader?”

“D-Don’t call me that.”

She took it on, but seems shy about being called it.

I eat with Isti at a nearby diner, then set out for the orc subjugation.